Mexico Razed

A powerful earthquake struck Mexico on Tuesday afternoon, toppling buildings, killing children in a school that collapsed and sending people flooding into the streets for the second time in two weeks. The number of deaths now totals 216, 83 of which in Mexico City. The earthquake hit shortly after 1 p.m. about 160 km from the capital, exactly 32 years after the 2985 quake that killed up to 10,000 people in Mexico. More than 40 buildings and other structures in Mexico City collapsed, and at least 21 students were killed, buried under their school.

U.S. President Donald Trump addresses the 72nd United Nations General Assembly at U.N. headquarters in New York, U.S., September 19, 2017. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz

Trump Speaks to the UN

In his first speech to the United Nations General Assembly, Trump promised to “totally destroy North Korea” if it threatened the United States. He also denounced the nuclear agreement with Iran as “an embarrassment,” and gave to understand he might abandon it. Using a phrase traditionally brandished by countries like Russia, China, Iran and North Korea, he extolled sovereignty and declared he would always put America first. Most of his bombastic statements were met with stony silence.

Furious Maria

Hurricane Maria continues sweeping a path of destruction at 280 km/h. Puerto Rico residents are bracing themselves for a direct hit from the storm, which could be the first Category 5 hurricane to strike the island in almost a century. More than 300 millimeters is expected to fall Wednesday morning, causing floods and mudslides. The governor of Puerto Rico urged people living in wooden or vulnerable structures to look for a safe place.